According to a story from drugs.com, the biopharmaceutical company Palatin Technologies, Inc., which is specializing in the development of therapies that interact with the melanocortin receptor system, recently announced the beginning of a new phase 2 clinical trial. This trial will evaluate bremelanotide as a treatment for obesity.
In the trial, the drug will be administered alongside tirzepatide in people living with obesity. The principal endpoint for the trial will be improved reduction in body weight of the patients in comparison to tirzepatide on its own. The trial anticipates enrollment of 60 patients who are already on active treatment with tirzepatide.
Tirzepatide is a GLP-1 agonist similar to the famous weight loss and diabetes drug Ozempic that has been making headlines in recent months. GLP-1 agonists have become the widely accepted standard treatment for obesity, but studies show that as many as 67% of users quit using the medication in the first year due to a plateau effect (in which the patient no longer continues to lose weight) and unpleasant side effects.
“We believe co-administering an MC4R agonist with a GLP-1 agonist will achieve significant weight loss at lower doses, with improved tolerability and quality of life for these patients. These beliefs are supported by our published preclinical data and multiple clinical studies demonstrating statistically significant effects on reducing food intake and weight loss in obese patients.” – Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and CEO of Palatin
About Bremelanotide
Bremelanotide is classified as a melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) agonist. Prior genetic research has identified this receptor as contributing a major role to regulation of appetite. Mutations impacting signaling of MC4R have been implicated in multiple rare genetic syndromes that result in childhood obesity and overeating.
About Obesity
Obesity is defined with a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 and is a major global health concern that is on the rise. Obesity is a risk factor for a wide range of life-threatening conditions, such as elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, stroke, heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and more. It results in major detrimental impacts to quality of life. Around 42% of adults in the US are obese and one in five teenagers in the US also live with obesity.
